4 ways to fend off cybersecurity threats

Published Updated 2 Min Read

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Hacked email accounts, bank scams, identity theft — nothing makes us feel more vulnerable than when our online security has been compromised. While no one can be 100% protected from cyber attacks, there are ways to avoid becoming a victim

2023 was a record year for data theft in the U.S, with more than 350 million people affected, according to the Identity Theft Research Center. The FBI reported incidents of cyber crime were also up, leading to a potential $12.5 billion in individual losses. Businesses are victims, too: Statista found that almost 70% of organizations experienced ransomware attacks between 2022-2023, costing companies millions. As cyber crimes become more sophisticated, both employees and employers need to make an extra effort to keep their information safe, and it starts with their inbox. 

Even if an email looks legit, there are telltale signs that it is a scam, Vecci says. Especially with advanced technology like ChatGPT, emails can be targeted, and therefore more dangerous. When in doubt, delete it. 

“Ask, do I know who this sender is, does this email have a link and what is the actual URL address,” he says. “[For example,] you see an email saying you need to reset your Apple password, and the address will say ‘apple password dot rdu.’  It doesn’t really look like apple.com. These are really small things, but everything should be treated as suspicious.” 

Lee Hafner
Editor

Lee joined the EBN team in 2022, and covers areas including caregiving, employee health and wellness, healthcare innovation, and company culture. She created EBN's popular Benefits in Action and … Read full bio


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